Conte Estate Yabby Dam Pinot Noir 2024

One of the joys of reviewing wines is that there will always be something that surprises you. First up here is a McLaren Vale Pinot Noir, a very rare beast indeed. There are a couple, but they are always fascinating to see. Next, and somewhat less relevant is the claim that yabbies are native to South Australia – I suppose technically yes, but I suspect a lot of people would think of them more as an east coast species of freshwater/land crustacean. My old man used to tell endless tales of when he was a kid catching yabbies in the creeks of Brisbane. I digress, and more irrelevantly than usual. The wine spent time in French oak. McLaren Vale Pinot is never going to be an elegant, ethereal style of wine, but no reason it can’t provide good flavours and be a thoroughly enjoyable drink. This one is that. A red/garnet colour, the nose gives notes of undergrowth, mushrooms, raspberries, spices, dried herbs and red fruits. Inevitably, a little more burly than a typical Aussie Pinot, but provided that does not mar expectations, it is an enjoyable wine. Medium length with fine tannins, it does have a future over the next two to four years.